Safe Environment Statement

Safe Environment

St. Mary Church and School recognize that all human life is precious and work to assure that all persons, especially the young and vulnerable, are treated with dignity, respect, and offered an environment which promotes safety. Parish, school employees, volunteers and Catechists strive to create and foster safe and healthy environments for all children and youth.

St. Mary Church and School meet and exceed the expectations of the Diocese of Raleigh for Child and Youth Protection. This includes, but is not limited to, background checks for all employees, volunteers, and faith formation catechists. Saint Mary Church and School provides mandatory Safe Environment training for all adults working with youth, distribution of educational materials related to child health and safety to families, and providing a safe and nurturing environment for all activities involving children.

Those wishing to receive additional information about safe environment in our church, school and community, or anyone wishing to report suspected abuse are free to contact the pastor, the deacon or the principal of the parish for assistance. Dr. John Pendergrass, Director, Program for Child and Youth Protection for the Diocese of Raleigh, may also be contacted by phoning 1-866-535-7233 or by emailing safe@raldioc.org

“Everything we do as church must reflect our commitment to respect life in all situations by providing a secure sacred space that safeguards and promotes human dignity, by fostering the development of each individual, and by creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all who come to use seeking an experience of the holy presence of God.”